87 charged in nationwide ATM 'jackpotting' scheme tied to Tren de Aragua gang

NEBRASKA - A federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska has charged a total of 87 individuals for their roles in a nationwide conspiracy to steal millions of dollars from American financial institutions using ATM "jackpotting" malware.

Nationwide ATM "jackpotting" scheme

What we know:

The Department of Justice announced the charges Monday after an additional indictment was returned charging 31 new defendants, in addition to 56 others previously charged in a massive Homeland Security Task Force operation.

According to federal prosecutors, the criminal ring is largely composed of Venezuelan and Colombian nationals, including members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a transnational criminal organization that the U.S. government has designated a foreign terrorist organization.

The 32-count indictment details a complex scheme where defendants allegedly utilized malware known as "Ploutus" to override ATM security systems, forcing the machines to dispense vast sums of cash. The charges leveled against the 87 defendants include:

• Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
• Conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud
• Bank fraud and bank burglary
• Damage to computers

Funding for Tren de Aragua

What they're saying:

Federal officials stated that the millions of dollars stolen through these attacks were used to fund TdA’s global activities, including kidnapping, murder, and the sex trafficking of children in Nebraska.

"Tren de Aragua is a complex terrorist organization that commits serious financial crimes in addition to horrific rapes, murders, and drug trafficking," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. She noted that the Department of Justice has already prosecuted more than 290 members of the group.

Joint Task Force Vulcan

What's next:

The charges are a part of an ongoing effort to dismantle TdA's financial pipeline, and is being led by the Joint Task Force Vulcan, which was created in 2016 to fight MS-13.